By Hari Narayana Das
On December 2014, the United Nations accepted the proposal submitted by 177 countries including Indonesia to declare June 21 as the International Yoga Day. This has popularized Yoga as another word for holistic living, health and prosperity.
This year June 21 was celebrated as the first International Yoga day. People from all walks of life came out to participate in the celebration: India, the US, Beijing, Paris, Manila, Seoul, Bangkok, Taipei and of course, Indonesia. Indonesia, as one of the supporter of the Yoga Day, also organized a mass Yoga relaxation program in its four biggest city, Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, and Denpasar.
Through Indian Embassy in Indonesia, as part of the “Friend of India: festival of India in Indonesia 2015”, promoted Yoga Day event. The committee invited the school of Yoga, practitioners, people interested in yoga, and the Hare Krsna Devotees to participate in the celebration of the International Yoga day.
Mass Yoga in Bali was held in the Puputan Margarana Park (Bajra Sandhi Monument), Niti Mandala Street, Renon, Denpasar. More than three thousand participants since early morning prepared themselves to roll out their yoga mats to take part in the celebration. The committee gave the devotees chance to do kiran before commencing the event. Hare Krishna Maha Mantra sung melodiously in Balinese tune was like a warm up for all the participants. The devotees took this chance to distribute Srila Prabhupada books and prasadam too.
The Vice Governor of Bali, Mr. Sudikerta opened the Yoga celebration. H.H. Subhag Swami Maharaj also personally came to the spot to give support to the devotees in distributing prasadam and Srila Prabhupada book. As Srila Prabhupada wrote in his letter that “Please maintain the program of temple worship, distributing of prasada, sankirtana party, distribution of literatures, study and Krsna work, all in order and make everything as nice as possible.” (SPL to Tirthapada, November 13th, 1970)
The sankirtan team spread to every corner of the park to distribute Srila prabupada books. One lady from Singaraja, the northern part of Bali said that she personally came to Denpasar to join the Yoga and she felt fortunate to have met the devotees who distributed book and and that she immediately purchased ten books once. She said that the book were to be given to her friends because they were very valuable books. More than 100 books and 2000 glasses of mung dal porridge were distributed.
“…along with distribution of our books and prasadam will flourish the propaganda of our mission.” (SPL to Bhagavan dasa, February 16th, 1971)
More photos here: https://goo.gl/DqTciI
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